Last month, the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), one of the world's largest anti-sexual assault organizations, launched a new online hotline for survivors of sexual assault. The online hotline works like instant messaging, allowing you to chat privately with a trained volunteer via the internet. The service is free, and RAINN has taken special steps to protect the identity of anyone using the hotline-- all users are completely anonymous and IP addresses and session transcripts are not logged.

The RAINN online hotline can be used by anyone who has survived sexual abuse or assault, or any spouse, partner, friend, or family member of someone who has been sexually assaulted, whether it happened recently or decades ago. Hotline volunteers provide crisis intervention, support, local treatment referrals, and information on recovery from sexual assault, medical issues, the criminal justice system.